Govt directive will make Delhi city of alcoholics, says Vijender Gupta

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta on Wednesday demanded chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the Delhi government’s decision to ease the process of issuing new licenses to restaurants wanting to serve liquor. He said that new liberalisation will promote drinking amongst Delhiites, especially among the youth. This unfortunate move, he said, must be stopped without delay at any cost.

Mr Gupta claimed that it is a matter of deep concern that the government had last month decided to give license to 49 restaurants that had lost their license following the Supreme Court order effective from April 1.

“The latest move to issue new licenses puts a question mark over the Delhi government’s will to promote prohibition. It is a victory of restaurant owners and defeat of Delhiites. The AAP government is making fun of Mahatma Gandhi’s call to adopt prohibition. It has failed on this front. Out of publicity expenditure of about 200 crores last year, the Delhi government spent just ` 7.76 lakh on prohibition. The Delhi government had decided to promote night life last year but it fell through due to the opposition from the BJP,” added Mr Gupta.

Mr Gupta also said that the government has failed in promising to open 500 new schools and 20 new colleges.